sdr: At least we agree on one thing: the shortage of buildable land in San Diego compared to the abundant land in southern Utah (and Phoenix and Las Vegas and Texas and….) strongly influences prices. Beyond that are many other factors propelling the exodus: utility costs, taxes, poor schools, homelessness, etc. You mention construction and seeing cranes everywhere. Yeah, we got them too. Anecdotes prove nothing. I prefer hard data, like US Census Bureau. CA, and lately San Diego, is losing population. Furthermore, the population leaving is now higher income, and, of course, businesses. Try renting a U-Haul truck in San Diego.
